Kirty Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 As most of you know, I have four big dogs and I also foster cats and kittens. My dogs are never left unattended with the cats, however Pia (Greyhound) sleeps on our bed and therefore has access to the cats when we are asleep. Because I am always getting new kittens and cats, I cannot rely on my dogs thinking the cats are family and therefore not toys or food. We therefore have a 'no chasing anything' rule. Pia *loves* soft toys and I recently bought her a cute, fluffy toy which I haven't given her yet. I am worried that if I encourage her to 'attack' cute, fluffy things that she might transfer that to the kittens. Am I crazy, or should I perhaps stick to toys that looking *nothing* like little kittens? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Flying Furball Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 It sort of makes sense to me that you would avoid fluffy things that she pulls apart and chews... There are a lot of other fun toy options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tralee Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Should have the opposite effect. Mouth stimulation is very important for dogs to counter aggression and instil proper socialisation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Rules Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 God, I wouldn't be wanting to try it to find out! I dunno ..... maybe soft toy play under supervision only? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirty Posted February 9, 2011 Author Share Posted February 9, 2011 Pewithers, I am not talking about taking all toys away. But perhaps just sticking to weird, colourful toys that do not resemble kittens! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greytdog Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I don't have any trouble with Bianca, but dogs are not all the same I suppose. Bianca has stuffed toys - she particularly likes the grunty ones. When the new kittens came, she didn't even show much interest. I had her on a lead and muzzled, but only for a very short time b/c I could see her avoiding them. She wouldn't even look at them if they came close; deliberately turning her head away. She'd chase strange cats given the chance (which she doesn't get), but the kittens were "strange" when they came and not even a hint out of Bianca. Maybe b/c we were all inside? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirty Posted February 9, 2011 Author Share Posted February 9, 2011 Mmm its hard. Pia is always very good with the kittens but she does like to try and get them to play with her. She plays quite rough with the Ginger Ninja but she was trying to get the other fosters to play last night and they were not impressed! LOL! I always let her play for a few minutes then tell her to stop before it gets too silly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greytdog Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I have to say Bianca isn't a "playful" dog. When she plays, especially with young or small animals, she plays like a mother dog would - she lies down on her side and just uses her front paws gently. It's very sweet to watch. I remember when the rottie India was young; Bianca would play with her, India would pounce on Bianca's paws, and Bianca would pull them out and "pat" India with her feet. Now the rotties are both big, she's not interested in playing with them. She doesn't play with the cats at all. I don't know if somewhere, sometime, a cat has shown her who's boss, or whether it's because she knows I don't approve. Back to the topic - I actually wonder whether it would make any difference what toy it was. They don't smell or sound the same as the cats, so I wonder if Pia would make the connection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tralee Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 (edited) Pewithers, I am not talking about taking all toys away. But perhaps just sticking to weird, colourful toys that do not resemble kittens! Quite the contrary. Dr Robert Holmes the Behaviourist advocates mouth stimulation and I would expect as many different textures as possible would be beneficial. Most certainly, it will depend on the temperament of the dog that you start with. If your dog is running with cats already, I can't see why a stuffed toy kitten would make any difference. Dogs respond to more than something fluffy, and in the first instance can tell the difference between the smell of their slob filled toy and a real animal. I think you're underestimating you dog. My dogs certainly know the difference and so do the cats that have strayed into our yard. Edited February 9, 2011 by pewithers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Dogs respond to more than something fluffy, and in the first instance can tell the difference between the smell of their slob filled toy and a real animal. saying that if a dog gets into a mood and just grabs whatever is in front of it like it would a toy, bye bye kittey. If you dog likes chewing on things get some fabric bite tugs http://www.fordogtrainers.com/index.php?ma...products_id=497 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacqui835 Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 As most of you know, I have four big dogs and I also foster cats and kittens. My dogs are never left unattended with the cats, however Pia (Greyhound) sleeps on our bed and therefore has access to the cats when we are asleep. Because I am always getting new kittens and cats, I cannot rely on my dogs thinking the cats are family and therefore not toys or food. We therefore have a 'no chasing anything' rule. Pia *loves* soft toys and I recently bought her a cute, fluffy toy which I haven't given her yet. I am worried that if I encourage her to 'attack' cute, fluffy things that she might transfer that to the kittens. Am I crazy, or should I perhaps stick to toys that looking *nothing* like little kittens? I think it's very difficult to say for sure, but I can tell you my experiences. My dog (a doberman) LOVES fluffy squeaky toys and absolutely annihilates them within seconds of me giving him new ones (I spend an obscene amount of money on dog toys). He is also obsessed with trying to hunt rabbits, and this is perhaps because, or at least complicated by the fact that the last 2 houses he's lived in have had free range rabbits living next door that often escape into our yard. So I'm not sure if having the toys has exasperated this or if having free range pet rabbits running around caused the problem but I would say that he has a bit of a problem with rabbits. That said, I brought home a tiny kitten, and he never looked at it the way he looks at prey animals. I told him to be gentle a couple of times in the beginning, but he was never trying or wanting to hurt it from what I could gauge, merely he's huge and clumsy at times. I don't know if the different response was because the kitten was my pet or if he recognised another predator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OSoSwift Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 What sane dog would not want to chase free range bunnies!!! My Whippets chase bunnies when allowed - not by themselves, we have cats they do not chase and once had a house full of Guinea Pigs get upended in the wind. None of the guinea pigs were harmed even when one bolted after being sniffed on the bum. I of course never leave them togther but I personally think they should be able to tell the difference. If you are worried I would find some fleece chew toys and something that doesn't squeak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 If a dog can differentiate between a cat it knows (leaving it alone) and a strange cat or a rabbit (and chase it) then I'd say it can differentiate between its toys and the family cat. Mine did. I don't see why having a furry toy will build drive for an animal the dog has been socialised with. I don't see the point in giving a dog toys unless the DOG finds them fun. My dogs like furry squeaky toys best so that's what they get. Canvas or plastic toys don't rate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wagsalot Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Riley has a heap of soft toys - some that look like animals. We have a cat, and we've also had a rabbit and duck as well and Riley was always really good with them running around him, but thats the type of dog he is. The cat, rabbit, bird etc never bother him. The bird will fly on his head and he just stands there. He knows the difference between his soft toys and the real animals. BUT, I know Riley is really good with all the other animals, however if he wasn't I wouldn't tempt him with any animal like soft toys just in case. Not when theres a million toys to choose from these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebanne Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 My greys like nothing better than ripping apart a soft toy, some of which have been shaped like a cat. This has not translated into ripping apart my cats and all are frequently left alone together. When the time comes for a new kitty or two to join the household I will just use common sense in introducing etc. Surely you don't let newly arrived fosters free range? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoxyNHemi Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 My dogs have a cat that meows, a pig that oinks and a cow that moo's (these are all plush toys!).... they did have a duck that quacked, but it hasnt lasted as long as the others... I dont have any issues with my dogs (westie and staffyx) trying to chase my cats... The Westie has been taught to 'leave' from day dot... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirty Posted February 22, 2011 Author Share Posted February 22, 2011 Rebanne, no new foster cats do not free range. All cats and kittens are quarantined for 2-3 weeks, adult cats then go into cat runs, kittens are brought into the house for socialising. Update: I ended up buying Pia some toys, ranging fromm squeaky rubber balls to a woolly sheep. She LOVES all of her toys - she loves to squeak them and throw them around. However, she has also been hassling the cats more. Not hurting them, but she will happily transfer her game with the toy into chasing the cats. So games are now limited to when I am actively playing with her and have control of the game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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